Global Voices » Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi Arabia: Qatif Protest to Demand “Rights”

Amira Al Hussaini — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 08:46:32 +0000

Revolution2East posts on YouTube this video from a protest in Qatif, Saudi Arabia, in which protesters, who include women, chant that they will not give up on demanding their rights.

Arab World: Netizens Turn to Twitter to Complain About Dust

Amira Al Hussaini — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:05:47 +0000

A massive sandstorm hit the Gulf region, disrupting air traffic in Yemen, and closing schools in Saudi Arabia. Netizens from Yemen, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar turned to Twitter to complain.

In Dubai, UAE, Iyad El-Baghdadi complains:

@Iyad_elbaghdadi: God there's dust everywhere, in my eyes, in my nose, on my desk, between my fingers, in my glass, on my keyboard. And I'm sealed indoors.

From Qatar, Hannah laments:

@hshurey: I am so fed up with this dust in Doha. I can barely even remember what fresh air is!

Ahmed Al Hashemi, from Abu Dhabi, UAE, notes:

@ADHashemi: Covered in so much dust I'm gonna need a car wash to get it all off. To make matters worse its really doing a number on my eyes

And Ozair Taher, from neighbouring Dubai, UAE, adds:

@Ozair25: Dust, dust, dust, dust & D.U.S.T “We should all pray for rain seriously!” #Dubai

Rain is also on Wael Al Jaber's mind. Al Jaber, from the Saudi capital Riyadh writes:

@W_Jaber: That awkward moment when people are talking about rain but all i see is dust #RiyadhWeather

Håkon Gaarder-Larsen, a Norwegian hotelier who lives and works in Riyadh, notes:

@Haakon_G_Larsen: Funny how a week of sandstorms and dust in Riyadh makes me look forward to the polluted air in Cairo next week

And Hisham Wyne jokes:

@HishamWyne: It's not a sandstorm. It's just that the dust bunnies are breeding ferociously. They're allowed four wives each too.

Meanwhile, in Sanaa, Yemen, schools are closed because of the dust storm. Noon Arabia clarifies:

@NoonArabia: Tomorrow and after will shut down too “@WomanfromYemen: dust storm in #sanaa caused schools to shut down today #yemen”

Arab World: Happy Mother's Day - Tribute to Martyrs' Mothers

Amira Al Hussaini — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:32:53 +0000

The Arab world marks Mother's Day today, on March 21. On social networking sites, netizens have sent out congratulations to their mothers on the day. They also remember the mothers of the thousands of martyrs killed by the authorities as they protested against dictatorship in this so-called Arab Spring.

From Bahrain, Sayed Ahmed Al Alawi tweets [ar]:

في هذا اليوم لطف الله بقلب كل أم فقدت فلدة كبدها مقتولا ظلماأو مغيبا في المعاقلات أو مشردا في الوطن والمهجر لكل هؤلاء الامهات نقول فصبر جميل

@SAalalawi: On this day, may God have mercy on the heart of every mother who has lost her child, killed unjustly, or imprisoned or forced into exile. To all those mother we say: patience is sweet

Egyptian Salma Hegeb shares a similar sentiment. She reminds us:

@Salma_ts2al: It's the second #MothersDay for some mothers of martyrs in Egypt. Since yesterday and I'm thinking how painful is that…

And Syrian Zain has bad news:

@ZainSyr: The number of martyrs in #Syria has risen to 70, including 14 children and 7 women #MothersDay

The heartbreak many, particularly children and mothers, felt on this day is summed up by Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi, who admits:

@RedRazan: I really envy those who have many words to say to the mothers of martyrs on Mother's Day. I can't even find one word. #Syria #Mothersday

She adds:

@RedRazan: #Syria Facebookers have been campaigning 2 encourage citizens 2 visit mothers of martyrs 2day,2 show them they're not alone in their plight.

A screen shot of the Syrian martyr's mother Facebook page, which encourages Syrians to visit the mothers of martyrs killed by the Assad regime

The Facebook Page is called We are Your Children, Martyr's Mother and can be found here [ar].

Back in Egypt, Mohannad tells us [ar]:

من الحاجات اللي باحترمها في أمي انها ثورية وعلى الرغم اني عارف انها بتبقى قاعدة في البيت مرعوبة لما بانزل اشتباكات،بتدعيلي وتدعمني ‎‫#عيد_الأم‪‏

@mand0z: One of the things I respect in my mother is that she is a revolutionary. Although I know she stays at home terrified when I am out during clashes, she prays for me and supports me

Meanwhile, Syrians abroad are finding it difficult to connect with family back home and wish their loved ones a Happy Mother's Day. The 47th tweets:

@THE_47th: Seriously, I have to f^^&** find a satellite phone or tie a message to a pigeons feed to tell my grandma Happy Mother's Day in #Homs

Kareem Lailah adds:

@KareemLailah: Please Assad, give me the communication back just for 1 minute to tell her #HappyMothersDay mom! #Syria #iLoveYou

And Syrian Shakeeb Al-Jabri jokes:

@LeShaque: Happy Mother's Day to my motherboard, one mother without which I cannot survive.

Libya: Libyan Memes

Amira Al Hussaini — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:16:56 +0000

What are Libyans laughing about on social networking sites? Check out this Facebook page to keep abreast with Libyan memes.

Jordan: 50 Things to do in Amman

Amira Al Hussaini — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:01:58 +0000

Jordanian blogger Roba Al Assi shares a list of 50 things to do in Amman this month.

Egypt: Baheyya Weighs in on Khaled Ali

Amira Al Hussaini — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:01:17 +0000

Renowned Egyptian blogger Baheyya writes about Egypt's youngest presidential candidate - Khaled Ali, who turned 40 last month. “In this maiden presidential race, electability is hard to gauge. But if credibility is a criterion, then Khaled Ali has it in spades,” writes the blogger.

Egypt: Pope Shenoda's Funeral

Amira Al Hussaini — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:59:49 +0000

From Egypt, Zeinobia covers Pope Shenoda's funeral in Cairo in this blog post.

Israel: “We Love Iranians”

Amira Al Hussaini — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:57:52 +0000

Paul Mutter blogs about the newest permutations of a social media campaign started over the weekend by two Israeli graphics designers that is called “We Love Iranians,” aimed at raising public awareness against the steady march to war the Likud government has been taking Israel on towards Iran. The meme, which uses cat pictures, has “gone viral” in Israel.

Bahrain: When is a Molotov Cocktail Acceptable?

Amira Al Hussaini — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:07:31 +0000

Marc Owen Jones collects videos allegedly showing Bahrain police forces throwing molotov cocktail (petrol bombs) at protesters and property in this post. Meanwhile, Bahrain has just charged 28 civilians with “attempted murder” for throwing molotov cocktails at policemen.

Syria: When Assad Falls

Amira Al Hussaini — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:18:47 +0000

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12.

Like all Arabs protesting against their dictators, Syrians have many hopes and aspirations for life after the toppling of their dictator Bashar Al Assad. On Twitter, Syrians are sharing their dreams under the hash tag #WhenAssadFalls.

For Syrian Kareem Lailah, the dream is a personal one:

@KareemLailah: #WhenAssadFalls I'll be able to see my beloved mother again.

Zainab wants to see the smile on children's faces:

@_Zazo_: #whenassadfalls i want to take a toy for every child of the martyrs children! maybe it will make them smile for 1 minute only #syria

And the 47th wants to take revenge on men of religion, blamed for spreading sectarianism among Syrians:

@THE_47th: #WhenAssadFalls I'll be after religious figures.. No one is getting away

Meanwhile, Syrian Freedom takes a stab at Syria's censorship and monitoring of the Internet. He laments:

@SooriMadsoos: So #WhenAssadFalls who will control #Syria the Facebook activists, the LCC, the FSA, or the foreign opposition???

Abu Hatem cautions:

@abuhatem: #WhenAssadFalls huge major problems are going to arise in transition harder than Tunisia, Libya, Egypt combined.

And Mishael Shamsi reminds us [ar]:

سيكون بشّار ماضياً تلعنه كتب التاريخ ! ‎‬#WhenAssadFalls‪‏

@Mishael_Shamsi: Bashar will become a past, cursed in history books

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12.

Syria: Friday's Demonstrations on Video

Amira Al Hussaini — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:45:48 +0000

Saudi blogger Ahmed Al Omran complies a Storify collection of videos allegedly leaked from Syria today. Many show protests which happened this Friday. [Warning: Some of the videos contain graphic material)

Morocco: A Protest to End Forced Marriage After Rape

Amira Al Hussaini — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:28:07 +0000

Moroccans are taking a stand tomorrow (March 17) in protest against the plight of 16-year-old Amina Filali, who committed suicide after being forced to marry the man who raped her. Amina's marriage to her rapist was approved by a judge. Her suicide has raised a storm of reactions both on social networks and on the ground.

Moroccans are planning to take their protest to the Parliament at noon tomorrow, in order to draw attention to the plight of women like Amina who are forced to marry their rapists, who also get to escape punishment.

The Facebook page in support of Amina - a rape victim who committed suicde after being forced to marry her rapist

A Facebook page, entitled No to Rape, with the Complicity of the State, states [ar]:

موعدنا جميعا إذن يوم السبت 17 مارس أمام البرلمان على الساعة 12 ضهراً ، لكي تبقى ذكرى أمينة حية فينا، فلا يكون موتها عبثا لعلها تكون أخر ضحية لمثل هذا الفعل الشنيع المخزي.

Our meeting is on Saturday, March 17, in front of the Parliament, at noon. This is so that Amina's memory remains alive. We don't want her death to be in vain. Perhaps should be the last victims of such despicable and shameful acts.

The page also lists the details of tomorrow's sit-in as follows:

1. Meeting point will be in front of the Parliament at noon. This is not a march so we will not move from in front of the parliament.

2. The sit-in is a citizen action organized by independents, they will be identifiable with their T-Shirts (we’ll have additional t-shirts for those who want to acquire them)

3. Posters and flyers with the demands (the demands are available in the about section of this page) will be distributed to participants. You may also bring your signs if you want to.

4. Several prominent civil society activists, NGOs and artists will be participating.

This is our cause, all of us, men and women of Morocco, so be there!

Meanwhile, netizens continue to interact with Amina's story. Rafik Ayoub, from Rabat, blogs [ar]:

قضية أمينة الآن,أصبحت قضية الشعب المغربي بأسره و شرف جميع المواطنين الذي يحلمون بتكريس الديمقراطية الحقة و العدالة الإجتماعية,من أشبه المستحيل الحديث عن التنزيل السليم للدستور دون إنصاف أمينة و أسرتها و محاولة رد الإعتبار لكرامتها التي عمرت في الحضيض,لن أكثرت بعد الآن بالوعود المتكررة بإصلاح القضاء و ضمان استقلاليته دون مراجعة بعد فصول القانون الجنائي التي أضحت تنصر الظالم أكثر من إنصاف المظلوم,.

Amina's story today has become the cause of all Moroccans and the honour of all citizens who dream of implementing true democracy and social justice. It is almost impossible to speak about the drafting of a proper constitution without doing justice to Amina and her family, and trying to restore her dignity which has been dragged into the sand. I will not bother with repetitive promises to reform the judiciary, and guarantee its independence, without referring to chapters of the Criminal Law, which has become a source of support for the oppressor against the oppressed.

Saudi Arabia: Tweets for Jailed Saudi Activist Draw Global Attention

Amira Al Hussaini — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:53:51 +0000

Saudi Twitter users have joined forces to highlight the plight of a political prisoner Shaikh Yusuf Al-Ahmad on the micro-blogging site. Their effort has made the Islamic scholar's name become a worldwide trend, raising awareness about his imprisonment without charges and access to a fair trial.

Essam Al Zamil quips [Ar]:

الله أكبررر ‎:)‏ اسم الشيخ يوسف الأحمد اسمه يصل للترند (العالمي) “Al-Ahmad” ‎‬#justice4YA‪‏

@essamz: God is great! Shaikh Yousif Al-Ahmad's name is trending worldwide

Foreign Policy editor Blake Hounshell shares a similar observation, which is acknowledged by Saudi blogger Ahmed Al Omran:

@ahmed: They did it RT @blakehounshell: Watershed moment? Saudi tweeters get al-Ahmad, a detainee, to trend.

Al-Ahmad trending worldwide on Twitter

According to Human Rights Watch, Al-Ahmad was arrested for his comments on a video he posted on YouTube, on July 7, 2011, criticising the long-term detention of security suspects without charge or trial.

Ironically, Saudi authorities have not announced any charges against Al-Ahmad, who was jailed eight months ago and who had taught at Imam Muhammad bin Sa'ud University in Riyadh.

Tonight's Twitter campaign to raise awareness about his imprisonment has resulted in an out pour of reactions both under his name Al-Ahmad and the hash tag #justice4YA.

The campaign is being spearheaded by @SaudiDetainees, following the success of their first Twitter campaign to draw attention to another political prisoner - 34-yrear-old Mohammed Albajady, who has been behind bars for almost a year, also without charges or access to a fair trial.

Al Zamil writes:

@essamz: He said NO in the face of Injustice. We say YES for his freedom #justice4YA

Khaled Al Naser adds [ar]:

عندما نطلب العدالة ليوسف الأحمد نطلبها لكل معتقل تعسفياً، نطلبها لكل إسلامي أو ليبرالي، لكل سني أو شيعي، العدالة والحرية للجميع

@Mashi9a7: When we call for justice for Yusuf Al-Ahmad, we demand it for everyone being held arbitrarily. We demand it for every Islamist and liberal and every Sunni and Shia. Justice and freedom is for all.

And renowed Saudi blogger Fuad Al Farhan, who was himself arrested for writing on his blog, lends his voice to the campaign. He writes:

الحرية للشيخ يوسف الأحمد.. آن لملف الاعتقال والسجون أن يغلق للأبد ونضعه كشعب وحكومة خلف ظهورنا ونمضي..

@alfarhan: Freedom for Shaikh Yusuf Al-Ahmad.. It is time for this chapter of arrests and imprisonment to be closed for good and for us as a nation and government to put it behind our backs and move on

Al-Ahmad also maintains a Twitter account here - @yusufalahmed. The account is now managed by a supporter, who tweets updates on Al-Ahmad, his imprisonment conditions and how his elderly mother, who is sick with cancer, is faring.

Reporters without Borders lists Saudi Arabia as an Enemy of the Internet in its 2012 list of countries that censor the Internet and stifle free speech. It is only a matter of time before we find out how long the outspokenness of Saudi netizens online will continue for.

Egypt: The Plight of Rural Women

Amira Al Hussaini — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:21:21 +0000

Egyptian blogger Ahmed Awadalla writes about rural women in Egypt in this eye-opening post. Such women, he says, suffer the “highest rates of illiteracy; bear the heavy burden of utmost poverty; lack essential healthcare greatly jeopardizing their lives; and is not represented in our new parliament.”

Arab World: Hands Off Clooney!

Amira Al Hussaini — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:58:34 +0000

George Clooney handcuffed. Photo by Sasha Lezhnev, shared by ENOUGH project on Flickr (CC-BY-NC-ND)

The United States has arrested actor George Clooney and his father Nick at a protest outside the Sudanese Embassy in Washington DC. Arab Twitter users register their protest on their arrest on Twitter.

The protest was organised to to draw attention to a looming humanitarian crisis in the Nuba mountains areas, on the border between Sudan and South Sudan. Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir is accused of blocking food and aid from reaching the region.

The Big Pharaoh, from Egypt, tweets [Ar]:

اكتب على حيطة الزنزانه حبس كلونى عار وخيانة

@TheBigPharaoh: Write on the prison walls, arresting Clooney is shameful and treacherous

Syrian Save Our Syria reacts:

@freeppl: Actor Clooney arrested outside Sudanese Embassy..I am glad someone from hollywood now know how reality action feels like

#FreeClooney trending worldwide on Twitter

Tunisian Tounsia Hourra (Free Tunisian) jokes [Ar]:

أنادي بجبهة شعبية لتحرير جورج كلوني , يا نساء العالم اتحدن جورج مقبوض عليه في واشنطن ‎‬

@tonsiahourra: I call for a popular movement to free George Clooney. Women of the world unite. George Clooney has been arrested in Washington DC.

Malek, from Egypt, adds [Ar]:

كله الا كلوني يا ولاد الكلب … ماعندكم مايكل مور

@MaLek: Anyone other than Clooney, you sons of dogs! You have Michael Moore [whom you can arrest]

Egyptian Marwan Qoutb chimes in [Ar]:

جورج كلوني مش بلطجي , الحرية لجورج كلوني

@Qoutb: George Clooney is not a thug! Freedom for George Clooney

While Egyptian Alyaa Gad jokes:

@AlyaaGad: Don't #FreeClooney. Can't stand him. lol

And J Berry draws parallels to some of the atrocities committed against Arab protesters during the Arab revolutions saying [Ar}:

كلوني و قبضوا عليه .. ناقص ايه ؟ .. يخرموا عين توم كروز !! يسحلوا كيم كارديشيان !! يكشفوا عذرية باميلا انديرسون !

@moneloky: Clooney has been arrested… what's left for them to do? Pop Tom Cruise's eyes? Pull Kim Kardashian across the street? Or check Pamela Anderson for her virginity?

For other reactions on Clooney's arrest, check out the Twitter hash tag #FreeClooney, which is now trending worldwide